Need suggestions on level unlock logic

Games
#1

The game I am developing is an astroid clone. I am implementing a level menu similar to Angry Birds. Right now I have level 1-20 with plans to add more later.

I am new to Game Logic development so i could use some suggestions on logic for unlocking levels. Mainly what should constitute unlocking the next level. Completion of the previous level only or should it be a combination of score vs completion? I am sure there is not really a right or wrong answer. I suppose it’s mainly how hard do I want to make it to complete a level. With something as simple as an astroid game I was thinking that completion on the level would unlock the next. I am planning for easy, medium and hard settings for the user as well.

So … let’er fly. I am open to suggestions to make my first game the best it can be at launch without over complicating it. [import]uid: 7501 topic_id: 16929 reply_id: 316929[/import]

#2

I think it depends on the hard a level can be. If it’s easy to unlock then the level unlocks the other, if the levels are too hard i think all the levels should be open, if the levels are medium hard and maybe finalizing a level gives you more options to unlock help on a level, then there should be like 3 levels opened always. (like Doodle Fit), But it really depends on how the levels work.

Also the score should go in a good way. The angry birds way is the best i can think, they have opened like 3 at a time, and you have 3 stars that represent a way to unlock harder levels, but in your game with 20 levels only i don’t think thats necessary

my 2Cents [import]uid: 75034 topic_id: 16929 reply_id: 63489[/import]

#3

@ syscobra - I think you make some really great points. There is a lot too consider for sure. I plan on adding a star rating for each level. The star logic I would think needs to be dependent on points, how fast the level is completed, and maybe how many times you are killed before the level is complete?

On the other hand you are correct, with only 20 levels to start the simple solution would be to unlock a level after completion of the previous level. This may be the way I go for now till I get time to add more logic and more levels than twenty. I have plans to make levels harder to complete by adding more enemies and also considering asteroids that have “health” or that have properties that make them harder to kill. Once these options are added and levels are harder to complete I think the star rating / angry birds logic would be a good way to go for unlocking more levels.

[import]uid: 7501 topic_id: 16929 reply_id: 63553[/import]

#4

– [import]uid: 3826 topic_id: 16929 reply_id: 63491[/import]